Apparatus for assembling receptacle closures



' Aug. 2, 1932.,

J. A. JOHNSON:

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSUR ES Filed June 1. 1928 6Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2, 1932; J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLINGRECEPTAQLE CLOSURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1. 1928 Aug. 2, 1932. J.A. JOHNSON 1,859,480

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JOHN A. JOHNSON, F WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLINGRECEPTACLE CLOSURES Application filed June 1, 1928.

This invention relates to apparatus for assembling receptacle closuresparticularly of the type arranged with corrugations or rufiies about themargin and commonly termed as crown caps, although it is also adaptedfor assembling closure caps arranged with a wire edge about the margin,and consisting in the assembling and aclhesively securing of a sealingdisk or pad in the closure caps, either by means of an adhesivereviously applied as a coating to one surface of the caps andheating-the same previous to the assemblin of the sealing disks thereinto render the ad esive viscous, or by supply- 5 ing a fluid adhesive, ora disk as of paper impregnated with an adhesive in a non-viscous state,and then heating the caps with the fluid adhesive, or the adhesivecarrying disk, to render the adhesive viscous previous to the applyingof the sealing disk thereto, and then placing the sealing disk underpressure in the cap during the initial period of the cooling of theheated closure caps, and it is the primary object of the invention toprovide 25 an improved constructed and arran ed apparatus for thispurpose to increase file pro- 7 duction of closure caps withoutmaterially increasing the structural cost of the apparatus, and withoutthe necessity of an increased number of attendants over what is nowrequired in the operation of present closure cap assembling apparatus,and to provide apparatus which is novel, compact in structure and hi hlyefiicient in use.

11 the present commercial type of apparatus for this purpose the closurecaps during the operation of supplying an adhesive to the caps, theheating of the same to render the adhesive viscous and highly fluid, andthe applying of sealing disks to the adhesive carrying caps, the capsare either slid along a support, or else they are supported at the skirtportion of the caps, and as-the caps are highly decorated, due to thiscontact of the caps with the support, the decorative surface isfrequently marred,'as by scratching and cracking'of such surface orotherwise with the result that they are not acceptable by the consumer.

It is a further object of the invention to Serial No. 282,260

overcome this disadvantage by providing supporting means for the capswhereby when closure caps arranged with the corrugated or rufiled marginare being assembled such 010- I sure caps are supported by thecorrugated portions, and when closure caps arranged with a wired edgeare assembled supporting the same at the wire edge portion with thesurface of the skirt and crown of the caps out of contact with thesupport, and support the caps in such position during the entireoperation of assembling and securing of the sealing disks in the caps,and thus reduce to a minimum the possibility of scratching and marringof the decorative surface of the caps while at the same time firmlysupporting the caps.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In carrying out the invention I provide an endless closure captransporting conveyor arranged with plates in sequence, said platesbeing arranged with closure cap receiving and supporting seats to whichthe caps are delivered by means arranged at the sides and one end of astretch of the conveyor to be transported for the length of such stretchof the conveyor, and during the transporting thereof by the conveyorpassing the caps through a zone having an elevated temperature to renderviscous an adhesive applied to the inner surface of the caps, orposition the caps relative to means to supply an adhesive thereto in asemi-viscous state, or in a non-viscous state by supplying a disk as ofpaper impregnated with the adhesive to the caps, and then passing thecaps through the zone of elevated temperature to render the adhesivefluid viscous, and then positioning the caps relative to means forapplying sealing disks or pads of cork or composition cork to theadhesive carrying caps, and'provide means to apply pressure to thesealing disks in the caps for a portion of the terminal travel of thecap carrying stretch of the conveyor. This pressure applying meanscomprises spring influence plungers carried by a second endless conveyormovable in synchronism and in parallel opposed relation to the capcarrying stretch of the cap transporting conveyor.

The conveyors are carried by rotatable supports and as the plungercarrying conveyor passes around its support to travel in opposedrelation to the cap transporting conveyor the plungers have an angularorbit of movement with the result that as they approach the caps carriedby the cap transporting conveyor they are liable to have a swipingcontact with and unseat the caps from their seats, and to prevent thismeans is provided to guide the plunger carrying conveyor to position theplungers in alinement with the caps carried by the cap transportingconveyor before they are engaged with and the pressure thereof appliedto disks in the caps. Means are also provided to adjust one of theconveyors relative to the other conveyor whereby to aline the capcarrying seats of the one conveyor with the plungers of the otherconveyor.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this applicationFigure 1 is a side elevation of the closure cap assembling apparatusillustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the delivery end of the apparatus toshow the actuating means for the conveyors.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view looking at the left of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are cross sectional views taken on the lines 55 ofFigure 1, Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrow a and Figure 6looking in the direction of the arrow I).

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view,- on an enlarged scale, taken throughthe op osed stretches of the plunger carrying an cap transportingconveyors to show the manner of placing the sealing disks in the capsunder pressure.

Figure 8 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of theopposed stretches of the conveyors and showing the manner of alining thepressure applying plungers with the caps carried by the cap transportingconveyor previous to the placing of the sealing disks in the caps underpressure of the plungers.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a portion of the cap transporting conveyor toshow the arrangement of the plates arranged with the cap supportingseats.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of aportion of the delivery end of thecap transporting conveyor and showing means for ejecting the assembledclosure caps therefrom.

Figure 11 is a perspective view to show the mounting of the adhesiveapplying device.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of adjustable supporting means for theplunger carrying conveyor to take up slack in said conveyor and also toposition it relative to the cap transporting conveyor to aline theplungers with the caps carried by the cap transporting conveyor previousto the engagement of the plunger with sealing disks in the caps.

Fi ure 13 is a perspective view of an adjusta ble support for the captransporting conveyor'to take up slack in said conveyor.

Figure 1 1 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, to show themanner of supporting closure caps arranged with a corrugated or rufiiedmargin in the seats of the cap supports of the cap transportingconveyor.

Figure 15 is a plan view of one end portion of the cap transportingconveyor and showing chutes arranged in relation thereto for delivery ofthe closure caps to the cap supporting seats of said conveyor.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view in perspective and on an enlargedscale through the upper stretch of the cap transporting conveyor to showthe supporting and guiding means therefor, and means to engage overmarginal portions of the caps carried by said conveyors to retain themin the cap supportin seats.

igure 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a fluid adhesivecarrier arranged with syringe outlet means relative to which capscarried by the cap transporting conveyor are positioned to supplyadhesive to the caps.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a plunger of the syringe outlet meansof the adhesive carrier.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view showing means for stamping disksfrom adhesive carrying webs and the applying of such disks to capscarried by the cap transporting conve or.

igure 20 is a view looking at the top of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is an elevational view of the adjustable connection meansbetween the closure cap transporting conveyor and its operating means.

Figure 22 is a View looking at the left of Figure 21, partly in section,and

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the means to control the actuation ofthe sealing disk delivery means by the transporting of the closure caps.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the operative parts aremounted upon a suitable framework comprising a table T mounted at theopposite ends upon standards S.

A conveyor in the form of an endless sprocket chain (designated in ageneral way by C), and herein termed as the cap transporting conveyor,is supported at one end by a sprocket wheel 21 fixed to a shaft 22journaled at opposite ends in bearing members 23 fixed upon the table T,and the opposite end being supported by a sprocket wheel 24 fixed to ashaft 24 journaled in a bearing member 25 (Figures 1, 2, 13 and 15)slidably delivered from the chutes by gravity.

'- AttUFACTUl-IEX.

mounted upon the table to have longitudinal adjustment by bolts passedthrough elongated slots in a flange of said bearing member, as at 26,and perforations in the table and secured in adjusted position by anadjustable abutment in the form of a set screw 27 threaded into aportion of the bearing member overhanging the end of the table to abutthe end of the table and locked in adjusted position by a lock nut 28,and by means of which bearing member the sprocket wheel 24 is adapted tobe adjusted to take up slack in the conveyor. Plates 29 are fixed inclose sequence to the conveyor, in the present instance to laterallyextended angle portions of alternate links, as at 30, of the chain(Figures 7, 8 and 9) with the opposite ends of the plates extendingbeyond the opposite sides of the conveyor chain and having a bifurcation31 in the opposite ends, the connecting portion between the legs of thebifurcation being of arouate shape to form cap supporting seats. Theforward legs 32 of the plates are of slightly less length than the rearlegs 33 and the ends of said legs are of arouate form, as at 34, withthe curved portion of the legs 32 merging in the inner edge of saidlegs, as clearly shown in Figure 9 and for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

The cap transporting conveyor travels with the upper stretch thereofmoving from the right hand end to the left hand end of the apparatus asviewed in Figures 1 and 2. The caps are delivered to the seats of thecap supporting plates of the conveyor at the commencement of travel ofsaid conveyor stretch, said means comprising chutes 35 leading from theoutlet of the hopper or hoppers (not shown) to opposite sides of theconveyor with the outlets of the chutes arranged in the plane of travelof the cap supporting plates 29 and in line with the cap supportingseats therein, the caps 36 lgging 10- ure 15.) The said stretch of theconveyor is guided in its travel by a pair of parallel rails 37 mountedin vertical edgewise, parallel and spaced relation in recesses ofbrackets 38 fixed upon the table T and supported by the chain slidablyengaging upon the upper edge of a rail 37 mounted on the brackets 38 andthe chain links engaging between said rails, as clearly shown in Figure16. Means are provided for retaining the caps delivered into the plateseats from the chutes and during the travel of the conveyor with thecaps from the chute outlets, comprising a rail 40 having cross barsconnected to the opposite ends the rail being arranged intermediate thecaps seated in the cap supports with the opposite edges of the railpositioned to engage over the marginal portions of the caps in the plateseats, said rail being hingedly supported at one end, as at 41, whereby1t may be raised, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, for gainingaccess to the caps in the cap supports and said end of the conveyor, andreleasably secured in position to engage over the conveyor by a lockinglatch 42 carried at the end of the frame opposite to that at which it ishinged and adapted to co-operate with a guard plate 43 fired upon thesprocket wheel bearing member 25. (Fi ures 1, 2 and 13.) By thearrangement of t e arouate portion 34 at the end of the one leg of thecap supporting bifurcation in the end of the cap supporting plates thecaps will readily enter the seats from the chutes.

The cap transporting conveyor is driven from a suitable source of powerby a drive shaft 44 journaled in hangers 45 suspended from the bottom ofthe table to rotate on an axis transverse of the table, said shaft beingdriven by a belt 46 passing around a pulley 47 fixed on the shaft andsaid shaft also having a loose pulley 48 thereon juxtaposed to the fixedpulley to which the belt is adapted to be shifted by a shifter 49 torender the apparatus inoperative. The conveyor is intermittentlyactuated from the shaft through a Geneva mechanism comprising a wheel 50mounted on the sprocket wheel carrying shaft 22 to rotate therewith,said wheel being in the form of a disk having recesses 51 equidistantlyspaced about the periphery and extended radially inward, with theperiphery of the portions between the recesses of curved or concaveform, as at 52. The wheel 50 is actuated by pins 53 fixed in andextending laterally from a disk or wheel 54 fixed to a counter-shaft 55continuously rotated from the shaft 44 by a sprocket chain 56 passingaround sprocket wheels 57, 58 fixed on the shafts 55, 44, respectively.In the present instance the disk 54 is arranged with three equidistantspaced pins 53, and as the disk is rotated the pins are successivelyengaged in successive wheel recesses 51 whereby upon each revolution ofthe pin disk three intermittent movements of the same extent will be imarted to the wheel 50, and said latter wheel eing held against movementduring the periods of rest by a plate member 59 fixed on the shaft 55juxtaposed to the pin wheel, said member being arranged with threeprojections equidistantly spaced between the pins and the ends arrangedof arouate or convex form, as at 60, to correspond with the curvature ofthe concave peripheral portions 52 of the wheel 50 and for slidingengagement therewith during the interim of movement of a pin 53 movingout of a recess 51 and the engagement of a successive pin in asuccessive recess.

The caps. are retained against lateral displacement from the plate seatsduring the travel of the conveyor by a pair of rails 61 fixed on thebrackets 38 at opposite sides of the conveyor to extend in the plane oftravel of the cap supporting plate. To hold the caps against upwarddisplacement a pair of guide rails 62 is fixed upon the rails 61 with ra longitudinal marginal portion projecting inwardly therefrom and overthe lateral mar ginal portions of the caps seated in the cap supportingplates, and an intermediate rail 63 having the longitudinal marginalportions undercut and engaging over the inner marginal portions of thecaps seated in the cap supporting plates, said rail being supported bycrossbars 63 fixed thereto adjacent the ends and upon the rails 61.(Figures 4, 7 and 16.)

The caps are successively moved by the travel of the conveyor relativeto adhesive supplying means, and then through a zone having an elevatedtemperature, and then to means to apply sealing disks to the adhesivecarrying caps. In the structure of Figures 1 and 2 devices are providedfor supplying an adhesive in a fluid state to the caps, and compriseadhesive carrying receptacles 64, one for each row of caps carried bythe conveyor, said receptacles being adjustably carried by a projection65 extending laterally from a head 66 slidably mounted in a slideway ina pillar 80 mounted on the table and straddling the conveyor, the headbeing carried by rods 66 arranged at opposite sides of and verticallyreciprocatory transversely of the line of travel of the conveyor, saidadhesive receptacles being arranged in superposed relation to the linesof caps carried by the conveyor to have movement toward and away fromthe caps by the reciprocation of the head carrying rods. The receptacleshave outlet means connected thereto, which is in the nature of syringes(Fi%ires 11, 17 and 18) comprising receptacles aving threaded connectionwith one end of tubes 68 threaded into and extended through openings inthe projection 65 to have longitudinal adjustment and secured inadjusted position by nuts 69 threaded onto said tubes at opposite sidesof said projection and to the upper end of which tubes the adhesivereceptacles 64 are con nected. The syringe receptacles are in con1-munication with the adhesive carrying receptacles through the tubes 68.The syringe receptacles have outlets in the lower conical ends, and thedischarge of the adhesive is controlled by plungers each embodying ahead having one end arranged of conical form to correspond with theconical end of the receptacles and having an elongated teat 71 extendedfrom the apex and slidably engaged in the receptacle outlets; the headalso is arranged with radial and longitudinal extending ribs 72 forsliding engagement with the inner tubular wall of the receptacles, theplungers being normally urged to closing position by a spring 73 coiledabout a pin 74 extending axially from the end of the head opposite tothe teat and in line with the bore of the tube'68, the spring beingconfined be tween the plunger head and the end of the tube connectedwith the receptacle. The adhesive carrying receptacles are reciprocatedin timed sequence with the movements of the conveyor so that during theperiods of rest of the conveyor the adhesive applying means will assumeits lowermost position, the syringes being adjusted so that justprevious to the terminus of the downward movement the plunger teats willengage caps, as shown in dotted lines at the bottom of Figure 17, andthe continued downward movement of said means, due to the engagement ofthe plunger teats with the caps, moving the plungers inward against theaction of the springs 73 and opening the outlets of the syringes topermit the adhesive to flow down the teats, the teats having asufficiently loose fit with the walls of the outlet to permit of saidflow of the adhesive. This contact of the teats with the caps is onlymomentary but of sufficient duration of time to permit of a spot or dropof adhesive to be supplied to the caps. The plungers 66 are reciprocatedfrom a shaft 75 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and journaledin hangers 76 fixed to and extending downward from the table T, saidshaft being driven from the shaft 44 through bevel gearing 77. Theplungers are engaged by an eccentric on said shaft operatively connectedwith the plungers by a strap encircling the eccentric, as shown at 78,the strap having a laterally extending arm whereby it is pivotallconnected with a cross-head in which the p ungers are mounted, as shownat 79.

The adhesive carrying caps as they are advanced from the adhesivesupplying devices are moved through a zone having an elevatedtemperature created by a suitable heating device, and shown ascomprising gas burning means embodying pipes 81 arranged above and belowthe line of caps transported by the cap transporting conveyor and havingburner orifices arranged to direct the flame toward the lines of caps,said burner means being connected with a source of supply by a pipe 82with an interposed valve controlled mechanism 83, the pipes 84 connectedwith the supply pipe 82 having outlet ends terminating adjacent theburner pipes 81 to serve as pilot lights.

The devices for applying sealing disks to the adhesive carrying capscomprises plungers 85 adjustably carried by a laterally projectingportion 86 of a head 87 slidable in a pillar 88 fixed upon the table andstraddling the cap transporting conveyor, said plungers being arrangedabove and in line with the caps carried by the cap transporting conveyorand having vertical reciprocatory movement toward and away from thecaps, said plunger carrying head being reciprocated by an eccentric onthe shaft 75 operatively connected with the plunger carrying head by astrap encircling said eccentric, as at 88, pivotally connected, as at89, to a crosshead 90 connected by rods 91 with the plunger carryinghead 87 (Figure 5.) The sealing disks D are carried in stack formationin magazines in the form of tubes 92 fixed in and extending upward fromblocks 93, which blocks are also arranged with guideways for theplungers 85 by arranging the same in spaced relation to supportingblocks 94 for slides 95 upon which the stacked disks are supported innormal position. The slides are reciprocatory in a directiontransversely of the travel of the conveyor and eject the lowermost disksfrom the stacks and position the same relative to the plungers 85 to bedelivered by the latter in caps carried by the cap transportingconveyor. The slides are reciprocated by actuators 96 slidably mountedin slideways in brackets 97 fixed upon the table at opposite sides ofthe conveyor. The slides 95 are seated in recesses in the slideactuators 96 with an end of the slides in abutting relation to a wall ofsaid recess whereby as the slide actuators 96 are moved inwardparticipating movement is imparted to the slide 95, and to impart returnmovement to the slides 95 they have a releasable connection with theslide actuators 96 comprising latches 98 pivotally carried by the slides95 and adapted to engage in back of the slide actuators 96 to couple theslides and slide actuators together. The slide actuators are actuatedfrom the shaft by eccentrics 99, 100 fixed to said shafts. The eccentric99 is connected with one slide actuator 96 by a strap 101 encircling theeccentric and pivot-- ally connected by a rod 102 with one arm of alever 103, as at 104, said lever being pivotally carried by a downwardlyextending arm of a bracket- 97 and having a pin and slot connection 105with the slide actuator 96. The other slide 96 is connected with theeccentric 100 in a similar manner by a rod 106 connected with a strap101 encircling the eccentric and having a pivotal connection 107 with alever 108 having a pin and slot connection 109 with the slide actuator.Latches 98 are normally urged to releasing position by a spring detent110. To prevent the delivery of a sealing disk from the stocks shouldthere he no cap in a cap seat of the conveyor positioned relative toeither of the plungers means are provided to control the latchconnection of the slides with the slide actuators by caps seated in thecap seats of the conveyor. For this purpose levers 111 are pivotallvmounted on the sides of the supporting blocks 94 for the slides 95, witha horizontal portion of an upward extending arm of the lever engagingover a lateral extension 112 of the latches, (Figures 1, 2 and 5) andthe opposite ends of the levers arranged with a feeler 113 by extendingthe end of the lever at a right angle and in the direction of travel ofthe conveyor, said conveyor being adapted to be projected downward intothe path of travel of the caps transported by the conveyor to be engagedby caps as they approach the plungers 85, and by the engagement of suchcaps, said end of the levers are moved upward and depressing theopposite ends and through the connection of the levers with the latchextensions 112 to move the latches 98 to engage the slide actuators 96against the tension of the spring detents 110. Should there be no cap ina cap seat of the conveyor and consequently no support for the feelerend of the lever said end of the lever will be permitted to movedownward through the action of the spring detents on the latchextensions 112 and the connection of the latter with the levers, thusreleasing the latches from the slide actuators 96 and as retrogrademovement is imparted to said slide actuators no participating movementwill be imparted to the slides 95.

The means to place the sealing disks in the caps carried in the seats ofthe plates of the cap transporting conveyor comprises plungers carriedby a conveyor in the form of an endless sprocket chain (designated in ageneral way by P), and herein termed the plunger conveyor, is supportedat one end by a sprocket wheel 114 fixed to a shaft 115 journaled in anupward extension of the bearing members for the shaft 22 to rotate on anaxis parallel with and superposed to said latter shaft, and by asprocket wheel 116 fixed to a shaft 118 journaled in a slide 119 (Figure12) adjustably mounted in a slideway of a yoke shaped block 120 andsecured in adjusted position by bolts extended through the sides of theslide and elongated openings in the sides of the blocks, as at 121. Theblock is pivotally supported at one end between brackets 122 (Figures 1and 2) mounted on the table at opposite sides of the cap transportingand plunger conveyors by pins fixed in said brackets engaged in openings123 in the block. The sprocket wheel supporting slide is adjusted in theblock by an adjustable abutment to take up slack in the conveyor, saidabutment being in the form of a set screw 124: having threadedconnection with an opening in the connecting portion of the yoke of theblock and swiveled to the slide, as at 125. The opposite end of theblock is adj ustably supported to variably position it relative to thecap transporting conveyor, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, byrods 126 (Figure 1) adjustably mounted upon the table extend upwardtherefrom by extending the threaded end of said rods through openings inthe table and clamping the same to the table by nuts threaded onto therods at opposite sides of the table, as shown at 126 in Figure 1, saidrods having pivotal connection at the upper end with ears 127 projectingdownward from the free ends of the legs of the block.

The plungers are in the form of headed pins 128 the stems of which areslidably engaged in perforations in the opposite ends of bars 1.29 withthe pin heads extending outward from the conveyor and having collars 130fixed on the other ends at the inner side of the bars, the plungersbeing yieldingly urged outward by springs 131 coiled about the plungerstems and confined between the heads and the bars. The plunger carryingbars are fixed to the chain in close sequence and spaced apart with thedistance between the longitudinal centers of adjacent bars equal to thedistance between the longitudinal centers of the cap supporting platesof the cap transporting conveyor. In the present instance the plungercarrying bars are fixed to laterally extending angle portions ofalternate links 132 with the opposite ends of the plunger engagingperforations extending beyond the opposite sides of the conveyor chain.The lower opposed stretch of the plunger carrier is guided andmaintained in predetermined spaced relation of the upper rail of the captransporting conveyor by a rail 133 fixed to a bridge piece 134:straddling the lower conveyor stretch and fixed upon posts 135 fixedupon the table at opposite sides of the conveyor. The guide rail 133engages between the chain links and with rollers mounted upon the linkconnecting pins, as clearly shown in Figure 7. The plunger engagingperforations in the bars are spaced apart a distance equal to thespacing ofthe cap supporting seats of the plates of the cap transportingconveyor, and as the opposed stretches of the conveyor come oppositeeach other the plungers will be automatically engaged with the sealingdisks in the caps, and as the distance between said conveyor stretchesis less than the length of the plungers the springs 131 will be slightlycompressed when the plungers are engaged with the sealing disks andexert a yielding pressure upon the sealing disks in the caps and suchpressure being applied for a sufiiciently long enough period to causethe adhesive to partially set and secure the disks in the caps. Theupper stretch of the plunger conveyor is supported by a bar 133 mountedon standards 134 fixed upon the table at opposite sides of the opposedstretches of the conveyors.

With the axis of rotation of the sprocket wheel 116 of the plungerconveyor in the same plane with the axis of the sprocket wheel 11-1 theplungers pass around the sprocket wheel 116 they would impart a swipingaction to the caps in the cap seats in the plates of the opposed stretchof the cap supporting conveyor due to the travel of the angular orbit ofmovement of the plungers being greater than the linear movement of saidcaps with the possibility of unseating the caps. For this purpose theadjustable 7 slightly higher than the axis of the shaft of sprocketwheel 11 1 with the result that the lower stretch of the plungerconveyor at said end of the conveyor will be slightly inclined inrelation to the major portion of the travel of said conveyor stretch,and the plungers before they engage with the sealing disks in the capsof the cap transporting conveyor will be positioned in alinement withsaid caps, as shown at 128 in Figure 8. The plunger conveyor ispositively driven from and in synchronism with the cap transportingconveyor by a gear 136 (Figure 4) fixed to the sprocket wheel carryingshaft 22 meshing with a gear 137 on the sprocket wheel shaft 115 of theplunger conveyor.

Should the conveyor chains-become slack for any reason, as by wear inthe parts, and such slack be taken up by the adjustment of the bearingmembers 25 or 120 the plungers may be positioned out of alinement withthe cap supporting seats in plates 29, and to compensate for this meansare provided to adjust one. conveyor longitudinally relative to theother conveyor after the slack has been taken up or at any time whenfound necessary, this adjustment being effected in the present instanceby the adjusting of the cap transporting conveyor. For this purpose theGeneva wheel 50 is loose on the sprocket wheel shaft 22 and means areprovided for releasably fastening it to the shaft to permit ofadjustment of said shaft rotatively relative to said wheel. This meanscomprises a toothed wheel 138, preferably a worm wheel, fixed to theshaft 22 to which the Geneva wheel is releasably coupled. To couple thewheel 138 and thereby the shaft 122 with the Geneva wheel 50, thetoothedwheel 138 is arranged with a cylindrical extension from one sideof the samediameter with an annular recess therein to provide the wheelwith an annular flange, as shown at 138 in Figure 22, said flanged endof the wheel being seated in a recess in the face of the Geneva wheel 50of a depth slightly less than the width of the flange, as at 50, andreleasably secured to said Geneva wheel by washers 139 engaged uponheaded studs 139 ESMANUFACTURES.

Geneva. wheel 50. To adjust the sprocket wheel carrying shaft the washersecuring studs 139' are released and the shaft is rotated relative tothe Geneva, wheel by a worm 140 rotatably mounted in ears extendinglaterally from the Geneva wheel and meshing with the teeth of wheel 138,the worm shaft being arranged for the application of a crank to rotatethe same. After the shaft has been adjusted it is secured in adjustedposition by drawing up the washers 139 to the flange 138 and therebyclamping the toothed wheel 138 to the Geneva wheel 50. It will beobvious that as the plungers reach the conveyor sprocket wheel 114 andpass around the same, and the cap supporting plates reach the sprocketwheel 21 the plungers will move out of engagement with the caps andrelease the caps in the cap supporting plates and as the captransporting conveyor passes around sprocket wheel 21 they are ejectedfrom the plate seats by ejectors in the form of U shaped members 141 ofresilient material fixed to an angle portion of brackets fixed to theframework with the ejectors arranged in line with the cap seats in thecap supporting plates, said ejector members being arranged with acushioning material 143, such as leather, for engaging the caps. (Figure10.)

The belt shifter 49 is carried by a rod 14st slidably mounted inbrackets 145 fixed to the shaft hangers and having a hand grip fixed toa projecting end to actuate the same. It will be obvious that as theshifter is moved to shift the belt 46 from the fixed pulley. as shown inFigure 2. to the loose pulley 48 that the apparatus will be renderedinactive. It will also be obvious that should the gas burning means beconnected with the source of gas supply during the inactive condition ofthe apparatus that it would not only destroy caps on the captransporting conveyor positioned relative to said gas burning means, butit is liable to cause a fire. Means are therefore provided for actuatingthe gas control valve mechanism when the apparatus is rendered inactiveto shut off the gas supply and to connect the same with the burnermechanism when the apparatus is set in operation. For this purpose meansare provided for actuating the gas shut off valve simultaneously withthe operation of the belt shifter, and comprising a rod 146 mounted tohave F longitudinal sliding movement in brackets J projecting from theside of the table and connected at one end by a link 147 with the gascontrol valve. and at the opposite end by a link 1 18 with one arm of abell crank lever 149 pivotally mounted on an arm projecting from one ofthe shifter rod supporting brackets 145, the other arm of the leverhaving a pivotal connection with the shifter rod, as clearly shown inFigure 2.

As stated, the apparatus is adapted for assembling of closure capswherein the adhesive is in the form of a lacquer applied to if surfaceof the metal from which the caps are formed and arranged at the insideof the caps, in which case the adhesive applying devices 64-71 aredispensed with since it is only necessary to subject the caps to heat torender viscous the adhesive coating, which is in a dry state on thecaps.

The apparatus is also adapted for use with adhesive carried in a drystate by a vehicle, such as a disk of paper impregnated with theadhesive, and supplied to the caps previous to the passing of the capsthrough the zone having the elevated temperature, and in the applying ofthe adhesive to the caps in such form the disks are stamped from anadhesive carrying web or webs and deposited into the caps, and I haveshown such means for this purpose in Figures 19 and 20. For this purposetwo adhesive carrying webs W are guided to guideways 150 in the uppersurface of a member 151 supported from the table to extend transverselyover the cap carrying stretch of the conveyor in the position of thesupport 80 for the liquid adhesive supplying devices shown in Figures 1and 2 and in contiguous relation to the cap supporting plates, saidguideways having perforations therethrough in the line of travel of thecaps. A pair of punches 152 are carried in alined relation with saidperforations by a head 153 slidably mounted in a pillar 154: supportedupon the table at opposite sides of and bridging the conveyor, the websbeing fed in interposed relation to the plungers and the perforatedportion of the guideways 150 by feed pawls 155 loosely suspended from arod 156 fixed in portions 156 extending upward from a carriage 157mounted for reciprocatory movement upon the extended end of the member151 to have movement relative to the guideways 151. in said member, andthe feeding pawls yieldingly urged in a direction toward the guideways150 by springs 158. The pawls are arranged so that when the carriage ismoved in a direction toward the punches they will impinge upon the websin the guideways and when reverse movement is imparted to the pawlcarriage said pressure will be released from the webs. To preventretrograde movement of the webs by the return movement of the feed pawlscounterweighted detents 159 are fixed upon a rod 160 mounted at the endsin brackets fixed to the opposite sides of and extending upward from theguideways 150. The free ends of the detents are serrated and the detentsare of a length greater than the distance between the supporting rod 160and the guideways 150 and urged in a direction toward the guidcways bythe counterweights with the result that should there be any retrogrademovement of the webs the serrated ends of the detents will bite into thematerial of the webs and hold them against movement. The pimch carryinghead is reciprocated with VII the punches in timed sequence with themovement of the conveyor by an eccentric 161 fixed on the shaft 75 andoperatively connected with the punch carrying head by a strap 162encircling said eccentric having a pivotal connection 163 with a crosshead 164 adjustably connected with the plunger carrying head by rods164. The web feeding pawl carrying carriage 157 is actuated in timedsequence 10 with the conveyor and punch carrier by an eccentric 165fixed on shaft 75 having a strap 166 encircling the same connected by arod 167 with a pivotally supported lever 168 having a pin and slotconnection 169 with the carriage 5 157 Means are also provided forpreventing the feeding of the webs when there are no caps in the capsupports of the cap transporting conveyor.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made inconstruction and arrangement of parts, and that portions of theinvention may be used without others, and come within the scope of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In assembling apparatus for closure caps flared outwardly about themargin, an endless conveyor carrying successively arranged plates havingcap receiving seats to receive and support the caps by engagement of theoutwardly flared marginal portion of the caps only, cap delivery chutesrelative to the outlets of which chutes the cap receiving seats in theplates are positioned by the travel of the conveyor, devlces forapplying adhesive and sealing disks to closure caps supported in saidplate seats and relative to which devices said seats are successivelypositioned by the travel of the conveyor, and

means for-placing the sealing disks in the caps under pressure for apredetermined length of travel of the conveyor.

2. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless conveyorcarrying succes- 5 sively arranged plates having seats in the ends toreceive and support closure caps, cap delivery chutes relative to theoutlets of which chutes the cap supports in the plates are positioned bythe travel of the conveyor,

devices for applying adhesive and sealing disks to the closure capscarried in the cap supports of the plates and relative to which devicessaid supports are successively positioned by the travel of the conveyor,and

means for placing the sealing disks in the caps under pressure.

3. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 2,wherein the conveyor comprises a chain, and the plates of the capreceiving seats are carried in succession by the chain and the capreceiving seats are in the form of bifurcations in the ends of theplates.

4. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 2,wherein the cap receiving seats are in the form of bifurcations in theends of the plates, the forward legs of the bifurcations of successiveplates being of less length than the rear legs of the bifurcations ofpreceding plates and the ends of said bifurcation legs arranged ofarcuate form merging with the inner edges of the egs.

5. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless chain conveyor,plates carried by alternate links of the chain with the ends projectingfrom opposite sides of the chain and bifurcated to form cap supportingseats, means arranged at the sides and one end of the conveyor todeliver caps to the seats in the plates, means to support the upperstretch of the chain, means arranged above the plates of the upperconveyor stretch to overlap the marginal portion of caps in the plateseats to retain the caps seated therein during the travel of theconveyor, means arranged in line with the movement of the caps with theconveyor to supply adhesive to the caps and apply sealing disks to theadhesive supplied caps transported by the conveyor plates, and means toplace the seal ing disks in the caps under pressure during the latterportion of the travel of the upper stretch of the conveyor and releasedtherefrom at the terminus of said travel.

6. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, meansat the terminus of the travel of the upper conveyor stretch operativewhen the pressure means is released from the caps for ejecting the capsfrom the plate seats.

7. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe means to deliver caps to the seats in the plates comprises chutesarranged at the opposite sides of the conveyor with the outlets in theplane of travel of the plates and with which the cap receiving seats inthe plates are brought into register.

8. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5,wherein the means to deliver caps to the seats in the plates compriseschutes having outlets arranged in the plane of travel of the plates, andan end portion of a lateral wall of each chute being pivotally supportedwithin the end thereof and yieldingly urged to cap guiding position andadapted to be moved from said position by a cap improperly positionedrelative to the plates for ejection of said cap by the travel of theplates.

9. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe cap conveyor is intermittently operated and during the periods ofrest is positioned with the cap 1 receiving seats of the plates in linewith the chute outlets and relative to the adhesive and sealing diskapplying means.

10. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe cap con- I30 'eiumciusrt,

veyor is intermittently operated, and the adhesive supplying meanscomprises plungers reciprocatory transversely of the direction of travelof the conveyor, and a fluid adhesive carrying receptacle carried byeach plunger arranged with syringe outlet means to have movement withthe plungers toward and away from the line of travel of the caps withthe conveyor and operative in timed sequence with the movement of theconveyor to deposit adhesive in the caps during the periods of rest ofthe conveyor.

11. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5. whereinthe cap conveyor is intermittently operated, and the means for supplyingadhesive to the caps comprises plungers reciprocatory transversely ofthe direction of travel of the conveyor, syringes carried by and movablewith the plungers toward and away from the line of travel of the capswith the conveyor and adapted to deposit adhesive in the caps during theperiods of rest of the conveyor, and an adhesive supply receptacle incommunication with the syringes.

12. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an, endless conveyorincluding plates arranged in close sequence with the ends extendingbeyond the opposite sides of the conveyor and arranged with capsupporting bifurcations therein, means to support and guide a stretch ofthe conveyor, means to deliver caps to said plate seats of the supportedstretch of the conveyor, means to provide a zone having an elevatedtemperature through which the caps carried by the con veyor plates arepassed in the travel of the conveyor to heat the caps and render viscousan adhesive carr'ed by the caps, means relative to which the caps arepositioned by the travel of the conveyor to apply sealing disks to theheated caps, and a plunger carrying conveyor movable in a plane parallelwith a terminal portion of the travel of the supported stretch of theconveyor and movable in synchronism therewith, and said plungers adaptedto place the sealing disks in the caps under pressure.

13. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 12,wherein the means to applysealing disks to the caps comprises plungersmovable toward and away from the caps transported by the conveyor. andmeans operative in timed sequence with the plungers to position sealingdisks relative to the plungers.

14. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 12,wherein the means to apply sealing disks to the caps. comprisesmagazines arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor having disksstacked there n,

plungers movable toward and away from the caps transported by theconveyor, and slides movable transversely of and alternately with theplungers to deliver the lowermost disks from the stacks and osition thesame relative to and be delivered to the caps.

15. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless conveyorarranged with successive cap supporting and transporting seats, means toactuate the conveyor, means at one end of a stretch of the conveyor todeliver caps to the cap supporting seats, devices relative to which thecaps transported by the conveyor are positioned to supply adhesive tothe successlve caps and apply sealing disks to the successive adhesivecarrying caps, aplunger carrying conveyor arranged in parallel relationto a portion of the end of the stretch of the cap transporting conveyoropposite to that at which the cap delivery means is arranged and theplungers carried thereby adapted to engage and place the sealing disksin the caps under pressure, means to actuate the plunger conveyor insynchronism with the cap transporting conveyor, and means to guide theplunger carrying conveyor to position the plungers in alined relation tothe caps carried by the cap transporting conveyor previous to theengagement of the plungers therewith.

16. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,means to adjust one conveyor longitudinally relative to the otherconveyor to aline the cap supports of the one conveyor with the plungersof the other conveyor.

17. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,means to adjustthe cap transporting conveyor to aline the cap supportingseats with the plungers of the plunger conveyor.

18. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise sprocket chains, and sprocket wheelsaround which the chains are passed, and the actuating means for the captransporting conveyor is operative to intermittently actuate saidconveyor and the plunger carrying conveyor is actuated from theactuating means for the cap transporting conveyor.

19. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise chains, sprocket wheels fixed torotatable shafts carrying said chains, and means for intermittentlyactuating the conveyors in synchronism, comprising a wheel,

said shaft having pins equidistantly spaced about and extendinglaterally from the disk for engagement in the wheel recesses, a memberjuxtaposed to the disk arranged with convex portions intermediate thepins for enby the plungers gagemen't with the concave portions of thewheel alternately with the engagement of the disk pins in the wheelrecesses, a drive shaft, means to connect and operate the pin disk fromsaid shaft, and an operative connection between the one sprocket wheelcarrying shaft of the plunger conveyor and the recessed wheel carryingshaft of the cap transporting conveyor.

20. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise chains, sprocket wheels fixed onrotatable shafts carrying said chains, the shafts of the captransporting conveyor being j ournalled in bearings to rotate on axes inthe same plane, the shaft of the sprocket wheel of the plunger conveyorat the delivery ends of the conveyors being journaled in a fixed bearingin superposed relation to the sprocket wheel carrying shaft of the captransporting conveyor at said end, and the other sprocket wheel carryingshaft of the plunger conveyor being adjustable in a direction toward andaway from the cap transporting conveyor to permit the plungers to assumean alined position with the caps carried in the cap supporting seats ofthe cap transporting conveyor previous to engagement with said caps, andmeans to guide the opposed stretches of the conveyors and maintain thesame in predetermined spaced relation.

21. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the plunger conveyor is superposed to the cap transportingconveyor and each conveyor comprises a chain and rotatable sprocketwheels carrying said chains, the sprocket wheels for the captransporting conveyor being rotatable on axes arranged in the sameplane, the one sprocket wheel for the plunger conveyor being rotatableon an axis superposed to and parallel with the axis of the sprocketwheel at the delivery end of the cap transporting conveyor, and theother sprocket wheel for the plunger conveyor being arrangedintermediate the ends of the cap transporting conveyor and adapted tohave adjustment in a direction toward and away from said conveyor, meansto support and guide the upper stretch of the cap transporting conveyor,and means to guide and position the lower stretch of the plungerconveyor relative to the upper stretch of the cap transporting conveyor.

22. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise chains, sprocket wheels fixed to shaftscarrying said chains, gearing to positively drive a sprocket wheel ofone conveyor from a sprocket wheel of the other conveyor, a drive wheelloose on one of said sprocket wheel carrying shafts, and means topositively couple said drive wheel with the shaft and permit of rotativeadjustment of the shaft relative to the drive wheel to adjust oneconveyor relative to the other and aline the plungers with the capsupports.

23. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise chains, sprocket wheels fixed to shaftscarrying said chains, a gear fixed to a sprocket wheel shaft of the captransporting conveyor meshing with a gear fixed to a sprocket wheelshaft of the plunger conveyor, a drive wheel loose on the gear carryingshaft of the cap transporting conveyor, a gear fixed to said shaftjuxtaposed to the drive Wheel, clamping washers engaged on.

headed studs threaded into the drive wheel and overlapping a peripheralportion of an annular flange of said gear, and a worm wheel rotatablycarried on the side of the drive wheel and meshing with said gearoperative to rotatably adjust said gear with the connected sprocketwheel carrying shaft relative to the drive wheel to adjust the captransporting conveyor to aline the cap supporting seats thereof with theplungers of the plunger conveyor.

24. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the conveyors comprise sprocket chains, sprocket wheels fixed toshafts carrying said chains, a gear fixed to one of said sprocket wheelshafts of the cap transporting conveyor meshing with a gear fixed to asprocket wheel shaft of the plunger conveyor to positively drive theplunger conveyor from and in synchronism with the cap transportingconveyor, a drive wheel on said gear carrying sprocket wheel shaft ofthe cap transporting conveyor, and means to rotatably adjust said drivewheel carrying shaft relative to the drive wheel to adjust the captransporting conveyor relative to the plunger conveyor to aline the capsupporting seats of the one conveyor with the plungers of the otherconveyor.

25. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, a. conveyor arranged withmeans to support and transport caps, means to deliver caps to the capsupports of said conveyor, devices for supplying adhesive to the capscarried by said conveyor and for applying sealing disks to the adhesivecarrying caps, gas burning means having valve controlled means for connection with a source of gas supply and arranged relative to the captransporting conveyor and interposed between the adhesive supplying andsealing disk applying devices to provide a zone having an elevatedtemperature through which the caps with the adhesive pass to the sealingdisk applying devices, a plunger carrying conveyor having a stretchthereof juxtaposed in parallel relation to a stretch of the captransporting conveyor to place the sealing disks under pressure in thecaps, means to positively drive the one conveyor from and in synchronismwith the other conveyor, a drive shaft having an operative connectionwith one of the conveyors to drive the same, said shaft having a pair ofpulleys mounted thereon one of which is fixed and the other loose, abelt shifter having a connection with the control valve of the gasburning means operative to shut off the gas burning means from the gassupply when the belt is shifted to the loose pulley to render theapparatus inactive and to connect said gas burning apparatus with thesource of supply when the belt is shifted to the fixed pulley to renderthe apparatus active.

26. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the cap supports of the cap transporting conveyor compriseplates fixed in equidistant spaced relaton on the conveyor with theopposite ends projecting from the sides thereof and having bifurcationstherein to receive and support the caps at the marginal portion.

27. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 15,wherein the pressure applying plungers of the plunger conveyor compriseheaded pins, bars fixed to said conveyor in equidistant spaced relationon the conveyor, said bars having perforations in the opposite endsextending from the sides of the conveyor in which the pins are slidablymounted, collars fixed to the ends of the plunger pins at the inner sideof the bars, and springs coiled about the pins and confined between theheads thereof and the bars to urge the plungers outward.

28. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 12,wherein the means to supply sealing disks to the caps comprisesmagazines arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor having sealingdisks stacked therein, plungers movable toward and away from the capstransported by the conveyor, slides movable transversely of andalternately with the movement of the plungers to deliver the lowermostdisks from the stacks and position the same relative to the plungers tobe delivered thereby to the caps, actuators for said slides, means toreleasably couple said slides with the actuators, and means controlledby caps in the seats of the cap supporting plates to actuate saidcoupling means to couple the slides with the actuators to render theslides active.

29. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless conveyor,plates fixed in successive arrangement to the conveyor with the oppositeends extending from opposite sides of the conveyor and arranged with capreceiving and supporting seats in the opposite ends, cap delivery chutesrelative to the outlets of which chutes the cap receiving seats in theplates are positioned by the travel of the conveyor, devices fordelivery of sealing disks to the closure caps supported in said plateseats and relative to which devices said seats are successivelypositioned by the travel of the conveyor; a zone having an elevatedtemperature through which the caps in the plate seats are passed for apredeterminetf' length of conveyor travel, and means for" placing thesealing disks assembled in the caps under pressure.

30. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless conveyorarranged with successive cap supporting seats, means to actuate theconveyor, means at one end of the conveyor to deliver caps to" the capsupporting seats, devices relative to which the ca s transported by theconveyor are positioned to apply sealing disks to the successive caps, aplunger carrying conveyor arranged in parallel relation to the captransporting conveyor and the plungers carried thereby being ada ted toengage and place the sealing disks in t e caps under pressure, and meansto actuate the two conveyors in synchronism.

31. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 30,means to create a zone having an elevated temperature through which apredetermined length of the cap transporting conveyor travels to heatcaps and render an adhesive in the caps viscous.

32. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, an endless conveyorarranged with successive cap supporting seats, means to deliver caps tothe cap supporting seats, devices relative to which the caps transportedby the conveyor are positioned to apply sealing disks to successivecaps, a plunger carrying conveyor arranged to travel relative to the captransporting conveyor with one stretch of one conveyor juxtaposed to astretch of the other conveyor and the plungers carried thereby adaptedto engage and place the sealing disks in the caps under pressure, meansto actuate said conveyors in synchronism, and means to adjust oneconveyor relative to the other conveyor to aline the cap supports andplungers.

Si ned at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 24th day of May, A. D. 1928.

JOHN A. JOHNSON.

